When the Massachusetts legislature returns from its August recess, state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, will be adding a new goal to his agenda — a seat in a new chamber on Beacon Hill. Citing state Rep. Geoff Diehl’s name recognition and funding capability, fellow Republican Viola Ryerson has withdrawn from the primary for the special election to fill the late Thomas P. Kennedy’s state Senate seat.

Diehl has drawn papers to enter the race for state senate, joining state Rep. Michael Brady, D-Brockton, Republican Scott Hall and Democrat Joseph Lynch on the Oct. 6 special primary election ballot to fill the seat left open when Sen. Thomas Kennedy died in June.

Diehl was the fifth person to announce candidacy for the senate seat, but Republican Viola Ryerson announced July 23 that she is dropping out of the race and supporting Diehl.

Hall still remains on the ballot as a Republican alternative to Diehl in the Oct. 6 primary with Lynch and Brady vying to represent the Democrats.

A five-year veteran state representative, Diehl said trying to switch houses was a difficult decision, but said the senate will offer him a larger platform to fight for local issues. “Before I ran for representative, I was the Whitman Finance Committee’s liaison to the School Committee and I watched the state cut local aid and education funding and I didn’t feel like the current rep was doing enough to fight it,” he said. “Since I’ve been in the house, my decisions have reflected the mentality of fighting to keep more money at the household and local level. [Running for senate] just provides me with a better opportunity to continue that type of work.”

“The biggest challenge is that this is a short election, so I need to make people aware of who I am and my candidacy,” he said. “This is going to come down to how quickly we can reach as many people as possible.”

While Diehl is well known in Whitman and East Bridgewater through his work as representative, the largest population of voters in the senate district reside in Brockton, which is home to the three other candidates. However Diehl said his work for Brockton business Sign Design allowed him to make connections with Brockton’s small business owners and also said he has found that many in the city already knew him from his battle on Beacon Hill to fight the gas tax, which was repealed by a ballot question Diehl introduced in the House.

A separate Special Election Primary will result in even lower voter turnout especially in Brockton if that's possible. But I assume that the two remaining will be Diehl and Brady and the General will be interesting. I do like that I was able to go to Diehl's website and see his Bio. As you said, not so much for Brady.

Diehl has drawn papers to enter the race for state senate, joining state Rep. Michael Brady, D-Brockton, Republican Scott Hall and Democrat Joseph Lynch on the Oct. 6 special primary election ballot to fill the seat left open when Sen. Thomas Kennedy died in June.